Just as everything came together, it also came apart.

Rae soon got the better of his nerves. And Duke Bejuk packed his bags to return to his beloved snowy peak, dragging Sebi along with him.

Within the week, Rae was mostly back to his old self. He penned letters to minor clan chiefs to announce the birth of his final sister. He wrote to his aunt, praying his uncles health would be well enough for them to make the trip to see him.

His people had found nothing of note below the cliff, and Rae was eventually convinced to call the search off. If Nana had fallen into the river, her body would be carried for many fathoms, possibly as far as the southern plains. There was little benefit, and great risk, to sending his men so far.

At the same time, the Ashems had built up their caravan and were ready to go. Much of the contents of the Shana’s palace were actually the possessions of the Shak. Save for her silk robes, jewellery, and a few other treasures, the Shana wasn’t taking much.

“It’s all far too fine, I fear it will look out of place in Camp Ashem,” she had said, when Rae had gone to have tea with her, and suggested she take a jade statuette or two.

When the tea and cakes were done with, she allowed him to look in on the snoozing Raefu. So rosy faced and healthy! The babe slept as peacefully as a summer afternoon.

“Really, you needn’t leave so soon. You must be exhausted,”

“It’s quite alright! I’m excited to see my home again. And I know my father is anxious to check on Camp Ashem,”

Rae sighed. He really couldn’t keep them any longer. Camp Ashem was his peoples frontier to the south, if the Emperor’s dogs got too comfortable with Duke Ashem’s absence and started taking liberties… It wouldn’t be good.

But, he still hadn’t settled things with Ven, and time was running short. They had ran into each other, and exchanged pleasantries, but there were always eyes watching them. For the first few nights after seeing Nana fall, Rae hadn’t slept and he barely had the energy to perform his duties, let alone the whims of his heart.

He bid the Shana goodbye, after gifting her with some trinkets, intended for the shali. They were a selection of silk ribbons, pearl hair pins, and cypress combs; carved with charms for good fortune. Such things were commonplace within a powerful clan, but Rae still knew little of his sisters, and they seemed like reasonable gifts.

The gardens were growing heavy with fresh blossoms, and Rae stopped for moment to admire them. Apple and peach blossoms framed the ornamental lake that was the centrepiece of the Shana’s gardens.

Rae was reliving memories of running around that lake, being chased by his maids, tossing morsels to the fish… when:

“I was wondering when fate would bring us together again,”

Ven was watching Rae, having just passed the gate of the Shana’s palace. Compared to the dishevelled and distressed state he had been in the last time Rae had seen him, he looked as serene as a heavenly messenger. His sleek hair pulled into a flawless topknot, his smile gleaming in the afternoon light.

“What’s all this talk of fate? You know where to find me,” Rae said. That face, which he’d been longing to see for days now, was suddenly blinding; he tried to focus on his view of the lake.

“Yes, but I felt I couldn’t seek you out until I thought of a good way to repay you,”

“Repay me?”

“For saving Ko-ko,”

Rae frowned, “there’s no need to worry about that. Of course, I’m happy to help. And anyway…”

“Anyway?”

“Just after the baby was born… I was in a bad mood, and me and Duke Ashem had an argument… Did he tell you about it?”

There was a huffing sound, and Rae looked up to see Ven stifling laughter.

“I knew he was angry about something! But he didn’t tell me what. What did you say?”

To acquiesce to all of your demands? To give you a grandson? An excuse to usurp my position? Not that you need one. How dare I? How dare you? You dare bring my father up now?

“Some things I’ve thought for some time… but probably shouldn’t have said,”

No matter what the Shana said, if Duke Ashem hated him, he could never drop by Camp Ashem for a visit. The shak’s camp would be Rae’s island, with access to Ven and the shali cut off by a vast ocean…

“You look worried…”

Ven was standing so close. He was watching the lake too, now. Mere inches apart. If Rae shifted his weight a little, their shoulders would be touching.

When they made contact, Ven wrapped an arm around him. Rae dared not look at him.

“I… I don’t think Duke Ashem will like it, if we continue…”

“Don’t let him worry you, he doesn’t like anything or anyone,” Ven said.

The more you try to reassure me, the more worried I feel.

Rae was going to say something, then he met Ven’s eyes. Ven didn’t look away, even with Rae staring back at him. Questions and hopes ran riot in Rae’s mind. He cleared his throat.

“Do you still…”

Then, Ven kissed him. Rae had been hoping he might, but that didn’t make it any less of a shock. Warm lips pressed gently against his own, and Rae was shaking with joy.

He knew, from reading about it, that you’re not meant to remain completely still when being kissed. But gnawing too hard on someone’s lips was also a big no-no. Rae leaned closer, hyper-analysing every movement Ven made.

If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to be good at this.

Ven, Rae trembled when he felt it, was using his tongue! He wanted to scream from excitement, but couldn’t do that directly into Ven’s mouth. To ground himself, he focused on the electrifying joy that was coursing through his whole body. Before Rae could gather his wits enough to put his own tongue to use, Ven pulled back.

Rae scoured his face for any signs of dissatisfaction, and found none. His eyes were twinkling.

“Don’t worry about a thing. I’m still determined to win your heart,” Ven said, before pressing another kiss to his cheek.

Rae was too overcome to speak, so Ven continued.

“I’ll go back to Camp Ashem for now. But I’ll take the first chance I can to come back here. You are my Lord after all, and I’m desperate to serve,”

If it were possible for words to deal a killing blow, Ven was master of this method. Rae licked his lips, still tingling with ghostly sensations.

“Hmmm, come back soon,” he said.